Resilience

We need to stay strong during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Pastor David Bowen Standing Stones Community Church Standing Stones Christian Academy

By defi nition, resilience means “the capacity to recover quickly from diffi culties.” Arizonans are resilient. When temperatures hit 112 or 115, one has to learn to be resilient. We all understand how our summer heat can make everyday things harder to do. We all have heard how Arizona is suff ering from one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19. It’s not just us out here is the desert. A recent USA Today headline stated that one in every three Americans knows someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

How are families coping with this daily life of constant uncertainty? It seems every day my email inbox is filled with phrases like “uncertain times.” As people settle into the stay-at-home and pause in our daily routines, many are ready for more optimism and more forwardlooking scenarios. It seems everyday there are more coronavirus TV ads filled with pictures of empty streets and first responders doing their best to deal with the current circumstances. Fortunately, it seems marketers and many advertisers are switching to advertising that demonstrate empathy. They are highlighting how companies are helping and telling

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us how they are expressing care and concern.

Maybe families can take a cue from marketers and advertisers and talk about how they can look forward and how they can focus on empathy for others and not get caught up in fear or panic. Obviously, there are some things that we have no control over. However, we do control how we respond in uncertain times.

In our family, we have had conversations about how uncertainty can be unnerving. But at the same time, we know we have a wonderful church family, we have good neighbors and we have each other. Knowing we are not left to fi gure it all out on our own brings comfort. Anyone who’s alone is vulnerable, but together we are stronger than the combination of our individual strengths. People together can take turns

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between drawing strength from others and being a source of strength. Th at has been a key for us. Sometimes we lean on others; other times we help people who need a hand.

In uncertain times, some may feel it is reasonable to respond in anxiety or despair. However, we do have a say in how we respond, and we can choose to have hope. We can let go of thinking about the worst possible scenario and look forward with a positive perspective. We can let our compassion for others and those who are having a hard time be the driving force behind our eff orts.

Th ere have been many inspirational stories that have come out of this pandemic, especially the ones where kids have been the resilient ones. One young boy stood outside a hospital and played his instrument for health care workers. A young girl began making masks and blankets for those who could not aff ord such comforts. Families have found ways to bring joy into a culture that needs a healthy dose of benevolence. My heart has broken several times when I have heard the pain in the voices of those who have loved ones in the hospital and because of this virus they cannot visit.

Th e same goes for those who have loved ones in adult care facilities. Visitors are not permitted. Th ose in that situation desperately need to hear the sound of hope. It just takes people being willing to be resilient. Stay strong, Arizona!